Murder as a Fine Art

Thomas De Quincey, infamous for his memoir "Confessions of an English Opium-Eater", is the major suspect in a series of ferocious mass murders identical to ones that terrorized London 43 years earlier. The blueprint for the killings seems to be De Quincey's essay "On Murder Considered as One of the Fine Arts". Desperate to clear his name but crippled by opium addiction, De Quincey is aided by his devoted daughter, Emily, and a pair of determined Scotland Yard detectives.

The Invisible Library

Irene is a professional spy for the mysterious Library, which harvests fiction from different realities. And along with her enigmatic assistant, Kai, she's posted to an alternative London. Their mission: to retrieve a dangerous book. But when they arrive, it's already been stolen. London's underground factions seem prepared to fight to the very death to find her book.

The Bear and the Nightingale

In a village at the edge of the wilderness of Northern Russia, where the winds blow cold and the snow falls many months of the year, a stranger with piercing blue eyes presents a new father with a gift - a precious jewel on a delicate chain, intended for his young daughter. Uncertain of its meaning, the father hides the gift away, and his daughter, Vasya, grows up a wild, willful girl, to the chagrin of her family. But when mysterious forces threaten the happiness of their village, Vasya discovers that she may be the only one who can keep the darkness at bay.

A Discovery of Witches: The All Souls Trilogy, Book 1

When historian Diana Bishop opens an alchemical manuscript in the Bodleian Library, it's an unwelcome intrusion of magic into her carefully ordered life. Though Diana is a witch of impeccable lineage, the violent death of her parents while she was still a child convinced her that human fear is more potent than any witchcraft. Now Diana has unwittingly exposed herself to a world she's kept at bay for years; one of powerful witches, creative, destructive daemons and long-lived vampires.

The Pillars of the Earth

Why we think it’s a great listen: Got 40 hours to kill? You’ll find the time when you start listening to Lee’s take on Follett’s epic – and widely celebrated – novel of 12th-century England. The Pillars of the Earth tells the story of Philip, prior of Kingsbridge, a devout and resourceful monk driven to build the greatest Gothic cathedral the world has known...of Tom, the mason who becomes his architect - a man divided in his soul...and of the beautiful, elusive Lady Aliena, haunted by a secret shame....

The Templar Legacy

The ancient order of the Knights Templar possessed untold wealth and absolute power over kings and popes until the Inquisition, when they were wiped from the face of the earth, their hidden riches lost. But now two forces vying for the treasure have learned that it is not at all what they thought it was, and its true nature could change the modern world.

The Anatomist’s Apprentice: The Dr. Thomas Silkstone Mysteries, Book 1

The death of Lord Edward Crick has unleashed a torrent of gossip through the seedy taverns and elegant ballrooms of Oxfordshire. Few mourn the dissolute young man - except his sister, the beautiful Lady Lydia Farrell. When her husband comes under suspicion of murder, she seeks expert help from Dr. Thomas Silkstone, a young anatomist from Philadelphia. Thomas arrived in England to study under its foremost surgeon, where his unconventional methods only add to his outsider status. Against his better judgment, he agrees to examine Lord Edward’s corpse.

The Collector of Dying Breaths: A Novel of Suspense

From the internationally best-selling author, a lush and imaginative novel that crisscrosses time as passion and obsessions collide. An orphan named René le Florentin is plucked from poverty to become Catherine de Medici’s perfumer. Traveling with the young duchessina from Italy to France, René brings with him a cache of secret documents from the monastery where he was trained: recipes for exotic fragrances and potent medicines - and a formula for an alchemic process said to have the potential to reanimate the dead.

Neverwhere

Richard Mayhew is a young man with a good heart and an ordinary life, which is changed forever when he stops to help a girl he finds bleeding on a London sidewalk. His small act of kindness propels him into a world he never dreamed existed. There are people who fall through the cracks, and Richard has become one of them. And he must learn to survive in this city of shadows and darkness, monsters and saints, murderers and angels, if he is ever to return to the London that he knew.

The Ruby Brooch: Time Travel Romance: The Celtic Brooch Trilogy, Book 1

As the sole survivor of the car crash that killed her parents, grief-stricken paramedic Kit MacKlenna is stunned to learn her life is built on lies. A legacy from her father includes a faded letter and a well-worn journal. The journal reveals she was abandoned as a baby 160 years ago. The only clues to her identity are a blood-splattered shawl, a locket with the portrait of a 19th century man, and a Celtic brooch with magical powers.

A Darker Shade of Magic: A Darker Shade of Magic, Book 1

Kell is one of the last Travelers - magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel universes. As such, he can choose where he lands. There's Grey London, dirty and boring, without any magic, ruled by a mad King George. Then there's Red London, where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. There's White London, ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne.

The Anatomist's Wife: Lady Darby Mystery, Book 1

Following the death of her husband, Lady Darby has taken refuge at her sister's estate, finding solace in her passion for painting. But when one of the house guests is murdered, her brother-in-law asks her to aid the insufferable Sebastian Gage - a fellow guest with some experience as an inquiry agent. While Gage is clearly more competent than she first assumed, Kiera isn't about to let her guard down, as accusations and rumors swirl.

Publisher's Summary

A bomb in Rome, a flash of bluish-white light, and photojournalist Josh Ryder's world exploded. From that instant nothing would ever be the same.

As Josh recovers, his mind is increasingly invaded with thoughts that have the emotion, the intensity, the intimacy of memories. But they are not his memories. They are ancient... and violent. A battery of medical and psychological tests can't explain Josh's baffling symptoms. And the memories have an urgency he can't ignore, pulling him to save a woman named Sabina, and the treasures she is protecting.

But who is Sabina?

Desperate for answers, Josh turns to the world-renowned Phoenix Foundation, a research facility that scientifically documents cases of past life experiences. His findings there lead him to an archaeological dig and to Professor Gabriella Chase, who has discovered an ancient tomb - a tomb with a powerful secret that threatens to merge the past with the present. Here, the dead call out to the living, and murders of the past become murders of the present.

What the Critics Say

"Rose's engrossing thriller effortlessly leaps to and fro through the centuries. Dramatic suspense and intriguing characters expertly set the stage for this first in a series." (Library Journal)

"One of the most original and exciting novels I've read in a long time, with a premise so delicious I'm sick with envy I didn't think of it myself. It will open your mind to some of the incredible mysteries of the past and the greatest secrets of existence. The Reincarnationist is more than a page-turner -- it's a page-burner. Don't miss it." (Douglas Preston)

I can't imagine who could enjoy this book. The only thing worse than the performance was the storyline and the UTTER LACK of historical details. Maybe a romance novel enthusiast without much power of discernment would like this book. Oh, and Dave Barry. I was tricked into downloading this book because he reviewed it highly.

What was most disappointing about M. J. Rose’s story?

I tired of hearing the belabored sexual longings of the main character. He appeared to only love the object of his affection because of sex. BORING. This was presented as historical fiction, which would imply the characters were real or that some aspect of the story, aside from the setting, was real. I can sum up the entirety of the true historical part: There used to be vestal virgins who were buried alive for breaking their vows. Wow. It doesn't take much to qualify as historical fiction these days, does it?

What didn’t you like about Phil Gigante’s performance?

He was breathy, too close to the microphone and too rumbly. I came to dislike the main character the more I listened.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

I was so disappointed I spent a month's credit on this dull book. It also made me a little angry that it would be classified as historical fiction when it clearly was NOT based on history. It is a completely made up story, set it in the past. That's it.

Any additional comments?

Try listening to A Winter's Sea instead. I LOVED it, great story, and it was deeply rooted in actual history.

The narrator keeps the listener engaged with the emotions conveyed throughout the story. The story combines actual locations with the fictional narrative which is complex and believable while unpredictable, which keeps the listener wanting to know what happens next! Reference to the voluminous work on reincarnation by Dr. Ian Stevenson, the book provides a narrative to the wonder of its possibility, if not actuality.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

The story kind of meandered. This guy was having what seemed like hallucinations and was idly wondering why he was having these sort of episodes. I just didn't believe it or relate to the character at all. Not for me, but not exactly bad. Just kind of, Eh.

What three words best describe Phil Gigante’s voice?

LOVE Phil Gigante as a narrator!

Any additional comments?

I couldn't get through the story as it didn't really suck me in. Although it is possible, this could've gotten better if you can persist through the boring beginning chapters.